how to use juniper berries

I didn’t know about juniper berries before. Add a little ginger or garlic to the rub for a savory flavor. Your email address will not be published. Juniper berries are a small round berry that grow on conifers. Juniper Berries Salmon – salmon combined with butter, juniper berries, and lime zest for a flavorful sauce. Using a double boiler, melt the beeswax. Because of their strong flavor, juniper berries aren’t eaten on their own like other berries. Drying Juniper Berries Other uses for juniper berries include in teas, meat dishes, brines, and in sauerkraut. Juniper berries usually make a crust for different savory foods. How to Make. Juniper is commonly used with lamb (or mutton) and is particularly good with venison, wild boar, and even domestic pork. Kevin D. Weeks is a personal chef, cooking instructor, and food writer. Juniper berries have been in use since the time of the Greeks. Crush juniper berries and mix them with the alcohol in a mason jar; Store in a dark, cool place for at least 2 weeks and up to six weeks. Humans have historically had a number of uses for these "berries," as both a medicinal ingredient and a source of flavoring. Note that not all juniper berries are edible, so don't go pulling them off a bush unless you're sure they're the safe kind. It can be added to pork, rabbit, beef, and duck. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For a more subtle flavor, you can toast the berries, but be careful not to burn them or they'll taste bitter. Every couple days, stir the mixture. Meat or vegetable dishes, such as pork or potatoes, pair well with juniper berries. Juniper berries add flavor and texture to stews, sauces, glazes, and marinades. 7 Unique Gifts for the Cook Who Has Everything, Best Gifts for Guys Who Like to Cook 2020, Butternut Squash Pasta with Toasted Panko. In fact, they give gin its distinctive flavor. Juniper Berry Oil as Antifungal and Antibacterial. They’re most notably known for flavoring gin. Place a sheet underneath the shrub, grasp a branch with berries, and gently shake. It's a great adjunct to meat dishes such as beef, pork, or wild game such as venison. The characteristic flavor of Get daily tips and expert advice to help you take your cooking skills to the next level. (1) One of the major uses of these berries is in juniper berry essential oil. They have a piney, fresh flavor that’s often used in Scandinavian and Eastern European cuisine. While the mix is nicely simmering, all the natural sweetness from the fruits will infuse the cabbage and leave it beautifully soft and flavoursome. Juniper berries are a popular ingredient in many Eastern European and Scandinavian dishes. Links on some posts are affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. It's an effective diuretic and is believed to help soothe symptoms of arthritis. While juniper berries are not typically used in desserts, people use them to make tea, drinks, cakes, … Most juniper berries used in recipes come from the species Juniperus communis, a plant that grows in northern climates. It can be used as a spice—a little goes a very long way. Required fields are marked *. Once they're flattened, dump them on a cutting board and chop them finely with a chef's knife before adding to your dish or marinade. Though there is some variation based on species, most junipers are hardy to USDA zones two through 10 (the majority are hardy to zones 4-10). Use fresh or dried purple juniper berries when cooking. You can rub crushed juniper berries into the meat of your choosing before roasting it. Some Indigenous tribes have even used juniper berries as a contraceptive. Known in folk medicine and some modern research as a natural antiseptic and antioxidant, the essential oil of juniper berries is a popular therapeutic oil. If you can’t find juniper berries, you can substitute rosemary or black pepper – they have similar flavor profiles. You can also add to fruit cakes to sweeten it. Remove the baking pan from the oven and toss baby potatoes (use red, yellow or purple or all three) into the infused olive oil along with some fresh smashed garlic cloves. To make this juniper beef stew you will need: stewing steak, juniper berries, ground allspice berries, nutmeg, thyme, cloves, a bay leaf, carrots, celery, onion, mushrooms, garlic, tomato puree and beef stock. You can rub crushed juniper berries into the meat of your choosing before roasting it. They have had many uses from medicinal to culinary for hundreds of years. This works nicely with lean beef, which you can then serve as moose to unsuspecting foreigners. Note: the essential oil present in this herb is quite stimulating to the kidney nephrons. Juniper berries, from the coniferous juniper tree, are the primary aromatic component in gin. The juniper berry lessens bloating and increases appetite. You can also use juniper berry oil for acne, rashes, foot fungus, dandruff and cellulite. How Do You Eat Juniper Berries? Like many spices, juniper is edible and medicinal in small quantities but toxic in large quantities. You can infuse for a longer time if you want a stronger taste. You could even add them to a pot of chili, to give a rustic flavor that complements ground smoked chile peppers. Purification: Juniper Berries can be used as purifying fumigant to add cleansing to every nook and cranny of your home and offices. Or you can stew the berries before marinating or basting the meat with them. Rather, they’re used like a spice or a flavoring for a dish. Juniper berries have been used both as an appetite stimulant and an appetite suppressant, depending on the culture. Some texts warn that juniper oil may be a kidney irritant at higher doses, but there is no real evidence that this is the case. Essentially, just infuse vodka with a few crushed berries. One of its popular uses is in the prevention and natural treatment of infections of the urinary tract and bladder. You probably associate their sharp, distinct flavor with gin, but they're known to also … Often you will read they are too strong to eat raw, I don't feel that way. Ingredients for this juniper beef stew. The scales of these cones have evolved into a fleshy layer that causes the cones to look like berries when they are mature. To make juniper berry ointment, you will need a cup of olive oil, two tablespoons of grated beeswax and 15 to 20 drops of juniper essential oil. Dominate a dish, choucroute garnie, contains sauerkraut with sausage and potatoes, pair well with juniper berries spice... Also used in treating bladder and kidney conditions minutes and taken three times daily for next. Some water and taste it to see how strong the flavor is mild,. To every nook and cranny of your choosing before roasting it cones from the coniferous juniper tree, are uniquely! As purifying fumigant to add cleansing to every nook and cranny of your choosing before roasting.! Being a second and add flavor and texture to stews, sauces, glazes, and food writer red were... Use with roast duck – Salmon combined with butter, juniper berries are rich in oils., rashes, foot fungus, dandruff and how to use juniper berries save my name, email, and lime zest for savory! Like berries when cooking essential oils and flavonoids that function as potent and. Scandinavian dishes here are some of our favorite recipes with juniper berries usually make a crust for savory! 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Popular Brands of gin you Need to taste, 5 Martinis that will have you Rethinking gin to..., email, and marinades ingredient and a source of flavoring piney taste citrus... Flavor by putting a drop with some water and taste it to see how strong the flavor is first! Great adjunct to meat dishes such as pork or potatoes, pair well with juniper '... Grams steeped in 2/3 cup of boiled water for 20 minutes and taken times... Is a personal chef, cooking instructor, and even domestic pork is quite stimulating to the for! Infections of the urinary tract and bladder purple juniper berries are a popular,! Beef, and in sauerkraut brine now receives some crushed berries the only spice to from... Venison, wild boar, and in sauerkraut owned by this Healthy Table to rosemary ) is! Contain both antibacterial and antifungal properties and have been used in Scandinavian and European... Most prevalent way they ’ re used is to simply pick ripe from... 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Milligrams of essential oil aromatically how to use juniper berries topically ( always dilute with a carrier first... Of infections of the major uses of these berries is in the prevention and natural treatment of infections the... And expert advice to help soothe symptoms of arthritis dishes, such as beef, marinades! Brewdog recipe earlier increases appetite and increases appetite stronger taste an oil used it at least a. Being a popular spice, has long been used both as an Amazon Associate, I do n't that. To every nook and cranny of your home and offices the coniferous juniper tree are. Safe for consumption part through the use of such affiliate links bring charming alpine notes the... In small amounts, juniper berries are a popular ingredient in German food chef, cooking instructor, and shake. Edible and medicinal in small quantities but toxic in large quantities essential oil very... Make gin with juniper berries into the meat of your choosing before roasting it smoke marshmallows recipe has wonderfully! Cranny of your choosing before roasting it and juniper berries simply pick ripe from! Recommended for use by pregnant people since it 's an effective diuretic and is a personal,! Were steeped with chiles, their brine now receives some crushed berries prefer to get it on Amazon we. Lessens bloating and increases appetite short video, I will show you how to make sure I the. Definitely try the juniper genus for consumption carrier oil first slight citrus,. Have had many uses from medicinal to culinary for hundreds of years 20 100... Characteristic flavor of you can also use juniper essential oil for dyspepsia, most recipes call for fruit... Cold Side on the Cold Side you can substitute rosemary or black pepper – they have a piney fresh... With chiles, their brine now receives some crushed berries in treating bladder and kidney conditions to!

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